Officials meet over Accra-Tema rail line

The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, has summoned an emergency meeting of the management of the Ghana Railway Company Limited and the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) to answer questions on the condition of the Asaprochona-Tema and the Tema Community One railway lines.

The meeting, scheduled for today, June 23, follows the Daily Grahic publication of Thursday, June 19, which had the Chief Civil Engineer of the GRCL, Mr William Ackun, calling for the suspension of train services on the Asaprochona-Tema railway line.

Mr Ackun, in a two-page letter to the Managing Director of the GRCL, Mr Ben Amofa, had indicated that curves on the railway track had not been maintained since it was constructed and handed over to the government in 2010.

“The track sections, Asaprochona-Tema and Tema Community One, have not been effectively maintained ever since they were opened to traffic in November 2010 and April, 2013 respectively”.

He had indicated that commuters using the track could face an impending danger of derailment, and the situation was such that the service had to be suspended immediately. There are currently two trains that make two trips daily on the Asaprochona-Tema track. Both trains carry about 1,400 passengers daily.

Mr Ackun indicated in the letter that engineers at the GRCL had neither the expertise nor requisite equipment to carry out such daily maintenance.

But the Managing Director of the GRDA, Mr A. A. Sadique, dismissed the assertion, stating that there was no danger, as some form of maintenance was being carried on the track.

Today’s meeting between the Transport Minister, the operator (GRCL) and developer (GRDA) is, therefore, expected to clarify the issues in order for a good, timely decision to be taken on the issue to avert any disaster.

The minister said they had taken the issues seriously and intended to ensure that the right thing was done.